The probing of dense (10[sup 21]-10[sup 22] electrons/cmÂ³) laser plasmas produced by high energy pulsed lasers usually makes use of X-ray emission imaging, or, more recently, of microradiography, i. e. of absorption imaging. However, it is well known that probing the index of refraction would bring much valuable informations. As far as index is concerned, interferometry is the choice method. However, the plasma context makes necessary to use for probing a very large brilliance, single pulse source, delivering energetic radiation, such as a soft X-ray laser. We report the design of a dedicated interferometric microimaging system, based on a Fresnel bimirror interferometer, associated with an off-axis spherical mirror, aspherized for diffraction limited (DL) imaging. In the first realization, the ideal mirror shape was approximated by a torus, making the system not diffraction limited. In a second step (currently in progress), a nearly perfect system will be realized, for diffraction limited resolution. The design and the realization techniques will be discussed and the first tests of the toroÃ¯dal system will be presented.

We observed the same biological specimens for comparison of the images by contact soft x-ray microscopy with a laser plasma x-ray source with those by confocal laser microscopy. Images of wet Leydig cells were directly comparable for organelles and showed that actin filaments and mitochondria...

A 129EM electron multiplier has been modified to detect soft x-rays by coating the first dynode with CsI. The prototype detector was tested at the XIa beamline of the NSLS synchrotron source at Brookhaven Lab and at the laser plasma source at the Rutherford Lab. Initial tests have shown that the...

Previously high-resolution soft x-ray microscopy has only been possible with synchrotron sources. Here, the first successful attempts at using a scanning transmission x-ray microscope with a laser-plasma source are reported. Spatial resolutions were limited to about 650 nm by electrical noise in...

Phase-contrast x-ray imaging has been studied for materials, biological and medical sciences at the Hyogo-prefectural beamline (BL24XU) of the SPring-8. Its optical system consists of a successive arrangement of horizontal and vertical (+,âˆ’) silicon double crystals taking asymmetric Bragg...

The development of two types of X-ray microscopy applying to the organic objects investigation (biological samples and polymer matrix) is reported. Polymer track membranes were investigated using Schwarzchild X-ray microscope with 20 nm wavelength. Pore diameters down to 0.2 Î¼m were clearly...

We summarize the development of the Stockholm compact water-window x-ray microscope (CXM-1) and show the first image of a biological object. The microscope is based on a liquid-droplet laser-plasma source, which is combined with normal-incidence water-window condenser optics for the object...

The King's College laboratory scanning x-ray microscope has been used on the laser plasma source at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, which has been extensively characterised. Resolution and contrast in the initial images are limited by electrical noise in the detector system.

A simple technique of single shot x-ray microscopic imaging is reported using two simultaneously produced laser-plasma x-ray sources. Twin x-ray images are recorded by placing the sample in a proximity gap with a photoresist and exposing it to two equivalent point x-ray sources. Characterization...